Update 14 (Years 1300-1400 Post-K7)
The golden age of the early Shadb Trasque culture culminates in the development of first oral epics and thus a unique storytelling tradition. Simultaneously, the aggressive borrowing of Shaln Trakkan artistic styles creates a greater diversity in the tool- and leathermaking. Unfortunately, all attempts to continue dominating the Trasque En Ettin Shaln via conquest fail. (Shadb Trasque: +1 Intellectualism, +1 Prominence)
The age of Roque-Esh’s domination over fringe Shaln Trasque tribes comes to an end as a sequence of weaker priest-kings leads to a period of stagnation in that still powerful cave city, coinciding with a mass migration of their tributaries to Masque-Una-Eshal. Still, its influence over its tributaries is clearly seen in their adoption of a primitive urban lifestyle in small cave cities. The Shaln Trakkan tools and jewelry also diversify thanks to the cultural exchange with their northern cousins. (Shaln Trasque: +1 Prominence, 1 Population Center migrates from Region 25 to Region 26, Region 25: +1 Urbanization)
The Wiet-yrisi Syrisil civilization continues showing signs of non-stop cultural search and dynamism, as its clothes-makers attempts to move from raw fibers to flax-fiber woven linens and proto-textiles. Unfortunately, their homeland is poor in other materials useful for textile-making tools, and, unless the Wiet-yrisi Syrisil people expand into other deposit-rich regions, their energy may all come to naught. At least, in raft- and boatmaking their masters are successful, opening a possibility of future voyages across the sea. (Wiet-yrisi Syrisil: +1 Seafaring)
Unlike their western kin, the Sheneti Syrisil agriculturalists do enjoy the benefits of having access to more mineral-rich regions, as well as their growing familiarity with the urban lifestyle of their Nekenee neighbors. Thanks to the efforts of the growing merchant class in Sheneti Syrisilian cities of Pulete, the Nekeni trade expansion gets diverted for now. Meanwhile, in the prosperous cradle of the Sheneti Syrisil culture, the rural population continues quickly growing. (Sheneti Syrisil: +1 Mercantilism, -5% Centralization, -5% Conformity, +1 Population Center in Region 9; player must choose type of new Power Point)
The Nekenee world keeps on undergoing development at rapid pace. While the High Priest-Kings and their mercantile allies fail to continue dominating the Sheneti Syrisilian markets, the exchange of goods does lead to a development of unique Nekeni cloth-making techniques, as well as attempts to emulate the northerners’ dyeing methods. All of this happens against the backdrop of an ongoing population boom in the Pulete highlands, which brings the population of the biggest stone cities to about fifty thousand inhabitants. (Nekenee: +1 Prominence, -5% Centralization, -5% Conformity, +1 Population Center in Region 12; player must choose type of new Power Point; Region 12: +1 Urbanization)
Nadelis Turape tribesmen fail to either extend its trade network into the lands of their Sagulani kinsfolk, and their cultural developments also remain rather humble. However, in Bolevel, the local colonies grow and expand further into the glade country. (Nedelis Turape: -5% Centralization, -5% Conformity, +1 Population Center in Region 3; player must choose type of new Power Point)
Meanwhile, the Sagulan Turape culture achieves its own seafaring milestone. First communities of Sagulan Turape agriculturalists arrive to the alluvial delta of the Fee Shenete river, where they come into contact first with the Sheneti Syrisil and then with Nekenee villagers. (Sagulan Turape: -5% Centralization, -5% Conformity, +1 Population Center in Region 9; player must choose type of new Power Point)
The urban Right-bank Happatara culture continues growing in relative isolation from the turbulent processes that characterize the Nari-inspired migrations of Hazo and Tantanari people. As such, few changes take place among the right-bank settlers, except the protracted population growth. (Right-bank Happatara: -5% Centralization, -5% Conformity, +1 Population Center in Region 23; player must choose type of new Power Point)
Much more interesting events take place on the other side of the Nantara river. The Left-bank Happatara culture, constantly expanding and still bearing the scars of its first violent clash with forest dwellers (the ancient Hazo), responds very violently when more Tantanari natives emerge from the Tantara woods and attempt to settle in the Nantara valley. While the urban sites previously resettled by the Tantanari keep standing, the new migrants face violent attacks from Happataran city militias, often exterminated to the last man. Those Tantanari communes that survive the onslaught are forced to open their gates to Happataran traders, and soon they fall under the economic influence of the Left-bank Happatara people. Something good does come out of it for the Tantanari, as their urban communities develop a surprisingly sophisticated proto-philosophic tradition based on the already rich oral tradition of their ancestors. (Left-bank Happatara: -5% Centralization, -5% Conformity, +1 Population Center in Region 23; player must choose type of new Power Point; 1 Population Center of Tantanari is influenced by Left-bank Happatara for 1 turn (influencing player has the first choice of Military or Cultural Power Point to use)
(Tantanari: +1 Intellectualism, -1 Population Center in Region 23, 1 Population Center migrates from Region 22 to Region 23)
The Hazo people, surprisingly, stay away from this clash of cultures, as many of them are preoccupied with challenging migrations away from the overcrowded Tantara forest. Little comes out of it so far, with the exception of the promotion of God Sikilo the Wanderer in their proto-pantheon. Surprisingly, Sikilo’s cult proves to be a glue that ties the scattered Hazo family groups together and elevates their understanding of the divine. (Hazo: +10% Conformity, +1 Spiritualism)
The Lakeshore Enaman culture of Mona yi Hu finally gets some breathing space after centuries of being dominated by its hillside kin. Thanks to that, salt trade with the Syo-Ke Ao settlers starts to flourish, bringing new prosperity to the proto-cities of Mona’s Rest. As a result, the pastoral population starts to boom again, and so do the primitive urban crafts. (Lakeshore Enaman: +1 Prominence, -5% Centralization, -5% Conformity, +1 Population Center in Region 29; player must choose type of new Power Point; Region 29: +1 Urbanization)
The peaceful Monite Enaman communities continue exploring the shoreline, developing a deeper and more multifaceted spiritual tradition, upon which their society is built. (Monite Enaman: +1 Spiritualism)
The Chorok Enaman people keep clashing with their neighbors for pastures and cattle, but with their expansion temporarily halted. Meanwhile, the timber and minerals from Mask ui Sha (or, as that land is known to the Shaln Trasque, Masque-Una-Eshal) diversify the Chorok toolmaking tradition. (Chorok Enaman: +1 Prominence)
Slowly but surely, these tools make their way to the Hill Enaman tributaries of the Choroki tribes, leading to a boom of leathermaking among them. (Hill Enaman: +1 Prominence)
The Ankarne culture fails to expand into the Chorokpan plain dominated by the warlike Chorok Enamans, and its spiritual ventures remain equally frustrated. On the other side of the continent, the Bashtunari and Agomai tribes keep on clashing indecisively. Meanwhile, just off the shore of the Land of the Shining Sky, the Maramapi islanders finally start exploring the sea around them, albeit with little to show for it.
GM's note: On Wednesday, I may have time to work on another milestone map. It may (or may not) mean that the next update will take more than 1 day to finish. So, those of you who would prefer a slowing down of the game's pace will have some time to catch up.
